Mexborough & Swinton Times April 24, 1936
Obituary.
Mr J. C. Macfarlane
Conisborough Councillor’s Sudden Death.
The residents of Denaby Main received a shock on Wednesday morning when the news of the sudden death of Mr James Cherry Macfarlane, a member of the Conisborough Urban Council, became known,
Mr Macfarlane had been occupied at his usual work as a miner at the Denaby colliery until last weekend, and as a miners representatives had attended meetings on Sunday and Monday.
On Tuesday morning he was not well and visited his doctor, afterwards going home, where he rested throughout the day. He was not well during the night and early on Wednesday morning he had a heart attack to which he succumbed before medical aid would be obtained. He leaves a widow and two children a girl aged 11 years and a boy aged six.
Mr Macfarlane was in his 39th year. He was a young man with party and political interests which he keenly fostered. He was a keen and zealous worker for the Labour Party in the interests of the miners whom he served as their delegate to the Yorkshire Mineworkers Association. Until the end of last year he was president of the Denaby miners checkweigh funds, which position he resigned to contest for the position of checkweighman. His candidature was unsuccessful.
He was secretary of the miners permanent relief fund at the time of his death. He had acted as secretary for the British Legion club (now the comrades club) from 1928 to 1931. A year ago he successfully contested the West Ward of the Conisborough Urban District Council and gained a seat as the official representative of the local Labour Party. He was well known as a fearless speaker in the cause for which he stood.
At the meeting of the urban district council last week, he was appointed to the Parks and Joint Burial Board Committee and also a representative on the Board of Governors of the Mexborough Secondary School.
His untimely death will cause a by-election.
The funeral is arranged for Sunday at noon. A service will be held in the parish church prior to the interment at the Denaby Cemetery